Fresh volleys of rockets were unleashed from Gaza towards Ashkelon, just moments after a prior barrage, and there are disturbing reports of direct hits in the area.
The Israeli military proudly declared the recapture of all communities surrounding Gaza, marking a significant development as the conflict with Hamas entered its third day.
This announcement, delivered by Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), came more than 48 hours after Hamas launched an unexpected assault, launching thousands of rockets and infiltrating armed fighters into Israeli territory.
On Sunday, Israel formally declared war on the Islamist militant group Hamas, responding to an unprecedented attack that has claimed the lives of over 700 individuals in Israel. Israeli fighter jets continued to pound the Palestinian enclave of Gaza as the conflict entered its third day.
According to authorities in Gaza, over 430 Palestinians, including numerous children, have tragically lost their lives, with nearly 2,300 more sustaining injuries.
Such a large-scale incursion by Gaza militants has not been witnessed in Israel since the nation's establishment in 1948.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli forces were engaged in a fierce battle to expel the remaining assailants when Hamas launched another barrage of rocket attacks. Sirens blared in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv at noon local time (5 a.m. ET), warning of incoming rockets.
Hamas militants claimed late on Sunday that they were holding more than 100 hostages in Gaza, including high-ranking Israeli army officers, as asserted by Mousa Abu Marzouk, the chief deputy of Hamas's Political Bureau.
Disturbing videos circulated on social media, depicting militants capturing multiple civilians, including children, while Israeli families across the nation desperately pleaded for the safe return of their loved ones.
In addition to Israeli captives, there were reports of other nationalities being taken hostage, including Americans, Mexicans, Brazilians, and Thai nationals, further complicating Israel's response to the Hamas attack.
For now, airstrikes have been the primary retaliation measure employed within Gaza itself, with Israeli jets repeatedly targeting the densely populated 140-square-mile coastal strip, reducing numerous buildings to rubble.
According to IDF statements, they have been striking Hamas forces, destroying approximately 800 targets, and inflicting heavy casualties, including the deaths of "hundreds" of fighters, the wounding of thousands, and the capture of scores of others, as announced by spokesperson Hagari on Sunday.
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